Shi’ite Militia Battle for Ramadi; 223 Killed across Iraq

On Tuesday, Shi’ite militiamen announced the
launching of an operation to liberate Ramadi. They are calling it
“Operation Labayk ya Hussein” (“At your service, O Hussein”) after a Shi’ite
imam who was the Prophet Mohammed’s grandson. Hussein was killed in the battle
that led to a schism between Shi’ites and Sunnis. The United States called
the codename overly sectarian and unhelpful
for maneuvers deep inside the Sunni heartland.

The United Nationsarticulated
its unease for civilian refugees being stopped at checkpoints, then being
forced back into the battle zone.

A Special Forces regiment has arrived
at Baiji to attempt to retake the refinery. It is unclear if these
troops were among those accused of abandoning their posts in Ramadi.